In the news:

Second Take: Kanye West and Paul McCartney come together for new track

Posted:

January 5, 2015

3:59 pm

Kanye West's newest song, "Only One," featuring Paul McCartney, is sung from the point-of-view of West's mother, Donda West, as she helps West come to grips with his fame, family and the uncertainties he felt after her passing.
(Roc-A-Fella Records)

On Dec. 31, the Chicago-based rapper quietly released the first song since his 2013 platinum-selling album “Yeezus.” A duo with Beatles-legend Paul McCartney, “Only One” features West singing – not rapping – while McCartney dances along the keyboard, harmonizing with the auto-tuned vocals.

The track is currently streaming on kanyewest.comand available for download on iTunes.

Kanye’s new song doesn’t have the forcefulness of “Black Skinhead” or the sexuality of “Bound 2″ from “Yeezus.” Instead, West uses the point-of-view of his late mother, Donda West, to address West and his 1-year-old daughter, North “Nori” West.

According to a press release, West and McCartney workedin Los Angeles, with McCartney improvising on the keyboard while West sung over the bright organ-sounding instrumental. This collaboration between two of the most famed musicians in their respective genres produced an outstanding and heartfelt song about acceptance and family.

“As I lay me down to sleep,/ I hear her speak to me/ ‘Hello, ‘Mari. How you doin’?/ I think the storm ran out of rain, the clouds are movin,’” West sings in light auto-tune at the opening of the song.

As Kanye relates, Donda comforts her son to come to grips with his fame, family and the uncertainties he felt after her passing. The simplistic nature of the song, mostly comprised of McCartney’s keyboards and West’s emotional singing, doesn’t leave an empty space in the track. In fact, “Only One” shows a great depth in West’s songwriting.

With a minimalistic album cover of Kanye cradling his daughter and looking over her, “Only One” marks a potential thematic change in West’s discography, with the subject of raising his daughter bringing a deeper purpose to the rapper’s music.

“Only One” packs some powerful comments on West himself, with him singing, “Remember who you are/ No you’re not perfect, but you’re not your mistakes.”

The somber tones of McCartney’s keyboards turns into a light, swinging melody for the chorus as West sings about his mother’s faith in him becoming a good man and father for his daughter.

The song’s pairing with McCartney, which also sent some fans to Twitter to rave about how McCartney’s career is sure to take off, begs the question of how much music will arise from the duo’s collaboration.

Kanye has already confirmed that the duo have been working on up to nine new tracks, including one titled “Piss on My Grave.” Whether the duo release a collaborative album or McCartney simply provides backing for tracks on West’s upcoming seventh studio album, it’s exciting to see the rap and rock powerhouses coming together for a track that oddly doesn’t fit either genre well.Instead, the song is a bare-bones portrayal from West with a charming performance by McCartney.

Toward the end of the song, West breaks down to speaking, saying, “I just want you to do me a favor.” This favor is evoked in the outro of the song, with West singing the final line, in repetition: “Tell Nori about me/ Tell Nori about me.”

Full of stripped, raw feeling, Kanye West entered 2015 singing to his family, backed by the bright keyboards of Paul McCartney.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

Poll

The Associated Students UCLA opened two popular restaurants, Veggie Grill and Blaze Pizza, this year. ASUCLA said in fall 2017 that it expected to lose more than $1 million for the 2017-2018 year. What do you think about these restaurant openings in light of ASUCLA’s financial situation?
Introducing desired restaurants, such as Veggie Grill and Blaza Pizza, will bolster ASUCLA’s business.
ASUCLA needs to improve other departments, such as its merchandise and textbook stores, in addition to opening new restaurants.
ASUCLA is unlikely to improve its financial situation despite how much it revamps its services.
I have feelings about this issue that are not expressed in the options above.
Submit View results without voting »

Beautiful room available in Holmby- Westwood Beautiful room - walking distance to UCLA in exchange for 15 hours assistance to active senior couple. Some driving, some cooking. No housework necessary as we have full-time housekeeper. Salary/stipend available depending on skill/ability to help with our needs. [email protected] (310) 475-0110 • Room for Help